When it comes to deciding where your next holiday will be, money is often a big factor.
Usefully, Post Office Travel Money has revealed its list of the most affordable locations to visit in 2019.
The Post Office took into account the local costs, how the sterling stacks up against the local currency and local events and celebrations for the year ahead.
Below are the best-value destinations to head to in 2019.
1. Turkey
Over the past year there has been a slump in Turkey’s local currency lira meaning you can now get around a third more lira for your pounds than a year ago. Bookings for April to December are already up 65 per cent year-on-year, with Marmaris along the Turkish Riviera being one of the cheapest cities to visit in Europe.
2. Bali
There’s a reason all the people you follow on Instagram have visited Bali in the past year – the cost of living is low which means Brits can get more for the pound. UK currency sales for the rupiah (Balinese currency) have surged by 483 per cent in the past decade and the average meal for two costs around £10.
3. Spain
Spain was rated the best-value destination in Europe in the Post Office’s Holiday Spending report after prices fell two per cent year-on-year. Spain has always been a beloved destination by Brits and year-round cheap flights mean it’s easily accessible.
4. Bratislava
Slovakia’s capital is becoming a go-to city for millennials. With cheap flight prices and local spending that is 44 per cent lower than Austria’s Vienna, Bratislava is an appealing weekend break.
5. Porto
Porto in Portugal is bursting with culture, restaurants, bars and, as the name would have it, port. Just two hours from London, it's one of the cheapest cities in Western Europe with prices a third less than they are in Lisbon.
6. Iceland
With a 237 per cent increase in Brits buying krona (Icelandic currency) over the past decade, the UK has certainly cottoned on to the beauty of Iceland. The krona is also one of the few currencies that has weakened to the pound over the past few months, so now’s the time to visit. Head in the winter to bathe in the Blue Lagoon and search for the Aurora Borealis or in the summer to chase waterfalls. Flights are cheap to Reykjavik year-round.
7. Croatia
Post Office reports that sales for the Croatian currency have gone up by 325 per cent in the past decade, making it one of Europe’s great travel success stories. With over 1,000 islands to visit and plenty to do and see on the mainland, Croatia is one of the best summer destinations in Europe.
8. Southern Italy
This year, Italy’s ancient city of Matera is the European Capital of Culture. As it’s significantly cheaper than most of Italy’s hotspots, it’s a great place to head to see the cultural side of Italy.
9. India
This year marks 150 years since the birth of Mahatma Gandhi and there will be numerous celebrations held throughout India during 2019. What’s more, a mid-range hotel rooms cost around £16 per night and you can get street food meals for just £1.
10. Patagonia
The Patagonia region that borders Chile and Argentina is home to one of the world’s newest hiking trails – the Route of Parks – that guides visitors through 17 of their national parks. If you're lucky, and time it right, you'll catch the solar eclipse if you visit in July.
